£80m funding for battery facility

The UK Government’s Faraday Battery Challenge is investing £80 million in the National Battery Manufacturing Development Facility (NMDF).

The cash will help the facility in the West Midlands to “host cutting-edge production and assembly processes and support the future scale-up of battery technologies”.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “Battery technology is one of the most game-changing forms of energy innovation and it is one of the cornerstones of our ambition, through the Industrial Strategy and the Faraday Challenge, to ensure that the UK leads the world, and reaps the economic benefits, in the global transition to a low carbon economy.

“The new facility, based in Coventry and Warwickshire, will propel the UK forward in this thriving area, bringing together the best minds from academia and industry together to deliver innovation and research and development (R&D) that will further enhance the West Midlands’ international reputation as a cluster of automotive excellence.”

Jaguar unveils battery plans

Ralf Speth, Chief executive of car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), added: “If the UK wants to stay competitive and make domestic electric vehicle manufacturing viable in the long run, a high level of ambition is required as set out in the Industrial Strategy.

“From 2020, all our [JLR] new vehicles will be electrified with mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric solutions, and these are already being designed in the West Midlands.

“We also intend to produce battery electric vehicles in the region, bringing the West Midlands to the forefront of modern mobility in the UK.”